A Choice Manuall, or Rare and Select Secrets in Physick and Chyrurgery [with] A True Gentlewomans Delight. Wherein is contained all manner of Cookery

London: G.D., 1663. 14th edition. Hardcover (rebound in leather). Good Condition. Rebound in blind tooled modern calf. Heavy wear and chipping to first title with loss to top border and touching the first title line, modest browning and soiling to page edges, last few pages heavier and last page chipped at the edges. Scattered minor stains and creasing. Here their is an epistle bound between 190 and 191. (14), 190, (2), 191-233, (26)pp; 140pp. Cagle 786/788 (1653 eds.), Bitting 201 (1659), Notaker 531.10.

First published in 1653, the Choice Manuall was compiled (at least by convention) from The Countess of Kent's receipts by "W.J." (who signed the preface). It's likely that W.J. also compiled the second part, but it's unclear from where. The True Gentlewoman's Delight collects 232 recipes with no real organizing principle. It includes the first recipe for a "fricassee" (frigasie of chickens, lamb) and a wide array of sugar cookery and preserves, including some advance in marmalade technology (see: jelly of pippins and jelly of marmalet). Unlike continental recipe books of the period, this, like a number of others from the same period, was aimed directly and exclusively at (upper class) women. Size: 24mo. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Cooking, Wine & Dining; Inventory No: CAT000261.